Fast food restaurant use among adolescents: associations with nutrient intake, food choices and behavioral and psychosocial variables

Objective: To examine demographic, behavioral and dietary correlates of fre quency of fast food restaurant use in a community-based sample of 4746 adol escent students. Design: A survey was administered to students in classrooms at 31 secondary schools in a large metropolitan area in Minnesota, United States. Height a nd body weight were measured. Subjects: Students in grades 7-12 who were enrolled in participating school s, had parental consent and were in attendance on the day of data collectio n. Measurements: Frequency of fast food restaurant use (FFFRU), dietary intake , and demographic and behavioral measures were self-reported. Dietary intak e was assessed using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire. Heig ht and body weight were directly measured. Results: FFFRU was positively associated with intake of total energy, perce nt energy from fat, daily servings of soft drinks, cheeseburgers, french fr ies and pizza, and was inversely associated with daily servings of fruit, v egetables and milk. FFFRU was positively associated with student employment , television viewing, home availability of unhealthy foods, and perceived b arriers to healthy eating, and was inversely associated with students' own and perceived maternal and peer concerns about healthy eating. FFFRU was no t associated with overweight status. Conclusions: FFFRU is associated with higher energy and fat intake among ad olescents. Interventions to reduce reliance on fast food restaurants may ne ed to address perceived importance of healthy eating as well as time and co nvenience barriers.